Daisy Rockwell, renowned American author, translator and International Booker Prize winner, said that when translating a literary work into another language, a translator is not merely translating words but also interpreting the work.
She made these remarks during a session titled “Across Languages: Daisy Rockwell on the Art of Literary Translation” at Forum 3 of the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair. She also pointed out that the notion of a translator being merely an invisible presence in a literary work is a misconception.A translator recreates, in their own way, the world that someone else has seen and written about. Therefore, Rockwell said, a translator must have the ability to visualise things. She emphasised that the ability to mentally picture and envision things, beyond simply knowing the language and its vocabulary, is essential to the process.Drawing from her own experience, Daisy noted that getting to know the author of a work and communicating with them can greatly benefit the translation process. She explained that having the opportunity to interact closely with prominent Indian writer Krishna Sobti before translating her book ‘A Gujarat Here, A Gujarat There’ into English had been particularly helpful.
She observed that translators are never entirely satisfied with their work and that they submit their translations only because editors eventually ask them to do so.
Even after winning the Booker Prize, she has faced criticism from Indians over certain things she has written about India. This, she said, has made her more cautious when translating Indian literary works.Comparing South Asian literature with European literature, Rockwell observed that literature from South Asian countries, particularly India, is more diverse and maximalistic. She attributed this to the region’s rich variety of languages and cultures.
She urged aspiring young writers to make writing a daily practice. Emphasising the importance of discipline and consistency, she encouraged them to set aside at least fifteen minutes every day for writing, regardless of how busy their schedules might be.
Daisy Rockwell also recited her poem titled ‘English Is a Monocrop’. Through the poem, she explored how English, as a global language, has established its dominance over numerous regional languages around the world. The poem portrays English as a destructive monocrop that devastates the smaller fields of local languages.
Media personality Anamika Chatterjee moderated the session.
